Q&A
Non-English speakers' vulnerability to scams
1:01:20
·
84 sec
Council Member Crystal Hudson inquires about the vulnerability of non-English speakers to scams, particularly noting a flyer about Chinese phone scams. Commissioner Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez responds, highlighting the increased vulnerability of non-English speaking populations.
- Non-English speakers are identified as a particularly vulnerable population to scams.
- Language barriers can make it difficult for non-English speakers to fully understand the nature of the engagement, potentially leading to scams.
- Unfamiliarity with certain processes from countries of origin can also increase vulnerability.
- The Department for the Aging ensures that scam information is provided in multiple languages to reach all communities effectively.
- While specific data on scams conducted in different languages wasn't immediately available, the commissioner acknowledges the need to protect non-English speaking communities.
Crystal Hudson
1:01:20
Thank you for sharing that.
1:01:21
Very insightful.
1:01:23
You mentioned the the Dominican Republic.
1:01:25
I wonder if some of those scams are are being done in Spanish.
1:01:30
Are non English speakers particularly impacted?
1:01:33
Are there specific demographics that we found to be more vulnerable than others?
1:01:37
I saw another flyer, I think, for Chinese phone scams specifically.
1:01:43
I don't know if you can speak a little bit to some of the specific populations that are most
Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez
1:01:47
As I mentioned in my testimony, I mean, the fact that you speak another language, and you're not really able to is is one of the things that we have found.
1:01:58
That population being the most vulnerable.
1:02:01
You're not clear what the engagement is leading to.
1:02:05
I've I've not seen and we can get you data on how many of the language the scams are done in language.
1:02:12
But we do know that non English speakers are more than likely targeted, and it's because of the communication.
1:02:24
And also, they're not familiar with certain processes from countries of origin.
1:02:29
And so it's something that we have to make sure that we do all of the scam information in multiple languages and which we which we do to ensure that all communities get the right information in the language that they're the most comfortable with.
